incommensurable

English

Etymology

From Middle French incommensurable, from Medieval Latin incommensurabilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnkəˈmɛnʃ(ə)ɹəbəl/, /ɪnkəˈmɛnsjʊəɹəbəl/

Adjective

incommensurable (comparative more incommensurable, superlative most incommensurable)

1. (mathematics) Of two real numbers, such that their ratio is not a fraction of two integers.
2. (arithmetics) Of two integers, having no common integer divisor except 1.
3. Not able to be measured by the same standards as another term in the context; see measurement; contrast with unmeasurable or immeasurable, each of which means not able to be measured at all, the former more generally, the latter generally due to some infinite quality of the thing being described

   The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable with each other; the diameter and circumference of a circle are incommensurable.

Related terms

• incommensurate

Translations

having no common divisor except 1

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 互质 (hùzhì)

• Czech: nesoudělný m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: yhteistekijätön
• French: incommensurable (fr)
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

not able to be measured by same standards

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: nesouměřitelný (cs) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: yhteismitaton
• French: sans commune mesure (fr), incommensurable (fr)
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Swedish: ^{(please verify)} inkommensurabel (sv)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Noun

incommensurable (plural incommensurables)

1. An incommensurable value or quantity; an irrational number.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, ch. 3:

     Unfortunately for Pythagoras, his theorem led at once to the discovery of incommensurables, which appeared to disprove his whole philosophy.

Further reading

• “incommensurable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “incommensurable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “incommensurable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

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French

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin incommensūrābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ.mɑ̃.sy.ʁabl/

Adjective

incommensurable (plural incommensurables)

1. (mathematics) incommensurable
2. immeasurable

   Synonym: immense

Derived terms

• incommensurablement

Further reading

• “incommensurable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.